1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Today on the bright side, I'm talking with Marathon or 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Kira Dematto about those moments when life unravels, when everything 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: you've worked so hard for crumbles beneath you, and how 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: to find the strength to start again. 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 2: It was so surprising to me when I look back 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 2: at everything. The thing that I was most proud of 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 2: was that ninety second run. Like it wasn't the days 8 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: that I crushed a twenty five mile, or it wasn't 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: when I'd broken American record or won a national championship. 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 2: The thing that I was most proud of was that 11 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 2: I gave myself a chance to go on this journey. 12 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice, and this is the bright side from 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. What can you accomplish in ninety seconds. It's 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: not a lot of time to get anything done in 15 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: a meaningful way, But what if that's all the time 16 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: you had to reconnect with yourself amid the business and 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: pressures of life. In ninety seconds, you could find a 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: quiet spot and have a mind full, meditative moment. Connect 19 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: with a friend you've been thinking about by sending a 20 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: catch up text or a photo that jogs a certain memory. 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 1: Tidy your desk to help quiet and overwhelmed mental load, 22 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: or strap on your sneakers and jog down the street 23 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: to get your heart pumping. What if giving yourself that 24 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: ninety seconds to do something just for you, whether it's 25 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: creating mental space or reconnecting with something you once loved. 26 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: What if that ninety seconds could change your life? 27 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: I felt pressure, there was no joy in it for me, 28 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: and I was exhausted from fighting this battle that I 29 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: wasn't making any progress on. And then finally I like 30 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: was like, what would happen if I quit and I stopped. 31 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: This Today on the bright side, we're exploring what happens 32 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: when we choose joy instead of metrics. Let's get into 33 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: it with Kira Dematto. Welcome to the bright side, Kia. 34 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm happy to be on the bright side. I 35 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 2: like being on the bright side. 36 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: Well, you've got bright energy, so I think it's a 37 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: perfect match. Kira. You began running competitively again after an 38 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: injury and this seven year hiatus, and then you run 39 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: a record breaking race at thirty seven years old, long 40 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: after most runners retire, or at least they've retired that 41 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: dream of breaking a record at that point, and yet 42 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: your book is called Don't call It a comeback. So 43 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: would you share a little bit about your perspective here 44 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: and why you don't view your story as a comeback. 45 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: That's such a good question, and I think so. I 46 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: started running again after I had my daughter. I had 47 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 2: her in twenty sixteen, and whenever I was cleared to 48 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 2: run postpartum, like, I went out to go for a 49 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: little run. For me, I was nowhere near the athlete 50 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: that I was in college or post Collegiately, I couldn't 51 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 2: even compare myself to her. But now I was this 52 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 2: mother with two young kids, and I was overweight. I 53 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: was in a tough spot mentally, Like. There were a 54 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: lot of reasons why I went out for the run, 55 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: but none of it had to do with how fast 56 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: I could go. And so I set out the first 57 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 2: day and tried to run three minutes and thinking that, 58 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: you know, I'd say three minutes and it would probably 59 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: turn into five or to ten or to twenty. But 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: I was just like, three minutes will get me out 61 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: the door. That seemed achievable. And I went out and 62 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 2: I made it ninety seconds, and that was as far 63 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: as I could go. That took everything I had, and 64 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: I stopped. I cried and I walked home, and the 65 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: next day I was like so sore, I couldn't do anything. 66 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: But I tried again two days later, and eventually I 67 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: made it to the three minutes. And then it was 68 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: a question like, well, what else can I do? Or 69 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: if I can run three minutes, can I run five minutes? 70 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: Can I run three minutes and then walk for a 71 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: minute and then run another three minutes? So it started 72 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: this beautiful journey for me that is about everything but 73 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: how fast I could go. I was setting out to 74 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 2: put running in my life, for movement, to do something 75 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: for myself, to have a little space for mental and 76 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 2: physical wellness, for community, to feel part of something, to 77 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 2: connect with other runners. So there was like this infinite 78 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 2: reason of why I started running, and none of it 79 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 2: was for a comeback. But I kept saying, like, after 80 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: I'd achieved something else, I'd run five minutes and then ten, 81 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: And then eventually the goals got bigger and bigger. Can 82 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: I run a whole five k? Can I run a 83 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: whole ten miles without walking? And I found myself in 84 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: this position where then I was breaking American records and 85 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: a sponsored Nike mom and that wasn't where I was 86 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 2: setting out to go. So I guess that's what it 87 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: means to me. This wasn't comeback. This was me discovering 88 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 2: a new love for running and just a really beautiful 89 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: outcome of prioritizing happiness. And then the success was kind 90 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 2: of like the cherry on the top. 91 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: I guess it's amazing that you've gotten this second act 92 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: with running, because sometimes when we attach so much of 93 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: ourselves and put so much pressure on ourselves with a 94 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: certain skill or vocation, it can kind of suck the 95 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: joy out of it almost and it can suck the 96 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: life out of it. But then at some point you 97 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: reach this turning point and you're able to chase the 98 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: happiness and running again. So take me into that moment 99 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: when you finally stopped chasing the accolades and the personal 100 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: bests and just started chasing joy. What was that turning point? 101 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, like I think printing it back in 102 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: my life. And then I started to do it more 103 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: and more, and I was picking goals that mattered to me, 104 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: not to anyone else, not to the running world. And 105 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: what was really hard for me then, is I A 106 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 2: couple of years after that, I ran a marathon and 107 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 2: I ran two forty seven, which was two minutes off 108 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: the Olympic Trials qualifying standard, And that was a big 109 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: turning point for me because it was do I go 110 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: for it? And running had become my joy just the 111 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: life is a chaotic mom and everything going on, like 112 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: running was my thing, and I was so worried to 113 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 2: intentionally go for it because I was worried I would 114 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 2: lose everything that it meant to me at the time 115 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: and I couldn't lose that. And so that was like, 116 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: I don't know, maybe six months of my life where 117 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: I thought, like can I go for it and keep 118 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: it what it is? Can I really go for it 119 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 2: and go for the grind and chase this like Olympic 120 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: Trials qualifier? Can I chase that and still have a 121 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,119 Speaker 2: lot of fun? So that essentially is like the book 122 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: in a nutshells, how I was able to chase these 123 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: things and reach these heights and have fun doing it. 124 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: You've shared three major learnings that you gathered between round 125 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: one and round two of your running career. If we 126 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: were to separate it that way, it's okay to fail, 127 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: have the courage to start and chase happiness not success. 128 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: I want to narrow in on having the courage to start, 129 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: because that can be such a big barrier for so 130 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: many people, myself included. And there's this powerful woman in 131 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: the book where you describe sobbing on the shower floor 132 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: not because you actually broke a record, but because you 133 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: just had the courage to start. Where do you get 134 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: that courage? What is the first right step? 135 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: So I think for me quitting the sport and walking 136 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: away for seven eight nine years, however long I was away, 137 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: I lived with I don't even want to say regret, 138 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: but a lot of would have, could have, should have, 139 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: And I always wondered what could have been if I 140 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: would have gone for it, if I would have figured 141 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: it out a way through my injury and held on 142 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 2: to that bottom of the rope a little bit longer, 143 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: where could I have ended up? So there was always 144 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: in the back of my mind watching I became then 145 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 2: a fan of the sport, and I'd watched all the races, 146 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 2: and I always wondered, like, where would I have been 147 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: if I would have done it all. So I think 148 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: that that in the back of my mind helped a 149 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 2: little bit with the courage to start, because it is 150 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 2: far worse, not starting and living with those question marks 151 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: and going for it and falling up short is what 152 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: I learned. And so for me, like I think the 153 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: courage to start also goes along with failings. Okay, is 154 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: because I felt like I failed by quitting and I 155 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: was okay, but I wondered what could have been. But 156 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: also like I think for me, the biggest thing is 157 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: like if you're looking at like Mount Everest and you're 158 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: at the bottom looking up, you think, how am I 159 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 2: going to climb? That? There is no way I make 160 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: it to the top. But if you take your guys 161 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: off the top and look down at your step, it's 162 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: really easy to figure out that next step. So I 163 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: think for me, focusing on the next step and the 164 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: next step and the next step, and all of a 165 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 2: sudden I zoom out and look around and I'm like 166 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: a quarter of the way up the mountain. So I 167 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: think for me, breaking it down and focusing on those 168 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: little baby steps and the progress really helped out a lot. 169 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 2: But it also like, I'm really happy you brought up 170 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: like that shower too, because after I broke the American 171 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: record in the marathon, and I'd broken a couple other records. 172 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: Before that, I'd won some national championships I've you know, 173 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 2: I qualified for, like being part of Team USA. And 174 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 2: after I broke the marathon record, which was held for 175 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 2: twenty years for the woman had it before me, it 176 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 2: was so surprising to me. When I look back at everything, 177 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 2: the thing that I was most proud of was that 178 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 2: ninety second run. Like it wasn't the days that I 179 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: crushed a twenty five mile, or it wasn't when I'd 180 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 2: broken American record or won a national championship. The thing 181 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 2: that I was most proud of was that I gave 182 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 2: myself a chance to go on this journey. 183 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: You said something a few minutes ago, though, that I 184 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you about. You said that you viewed 185 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: quitting as a failure. Do you still feel that way 186 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: about quitting? Is it failure? 187 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: No, it's not. I think there is a time and 188 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 2: place to quit things. And I think that we've always 189 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 2: grown up with the mentality like you don't quit, you 190 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: never quit. But I think I've learned through this whole 191 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 2: journey that there are times in life, and there are 192 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 2: times when you're going after things that like you need 193 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: to quit and you need to cut your ties and 194 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 2: you need to like refresh and start over and maybe 195 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 2: aim something different or pivot. But I I don't see 196 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 2: that now as a failure, but I felt like a 197 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 2: failure quitting. 198 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: I think the hardest part of quitting is knowing when 199 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: to quit. How did you know that it was the 200 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: right time to quit running the first time? 201 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 2: So I had an injury that was reoccurring, and it 202 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: kept coming back, and I would take six to week 203 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: eight weeks off, I'd see a doctor, I would do 204 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 2: all the cross train, I'd get back. I'd run for 205 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 2: another month or two and get the fitness back, and 206 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: then that foot would break again. And it turned out 207 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: that I needed surgery on my ankle, and it was 208 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: not covered by insurance, so I would have had to 209 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: pay out a pocket and it was exhausting for me. 210 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 2: I appealed it, and I went to all the other 211 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: doctors I probably saw, I mean at least five, maybe 212 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: ten different doctors. I even went to like spiritual doctors 213 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 2: that read my auras. And actually it was one of 214 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: the spiritual doctors that I kind of like went to 215 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: as a hail Mary, and she was looking at my 216 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 2: body and doing all the crystals and watching like, hell, everything, 217 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: Like I'm a personally gathers a lot of information. If 218 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 2: you you can't tell. But she like the thing that 219 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: came back to her. And I didn't even really tell 220 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: her so much what was wrong, but the thing that 221 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: came back to her, She's like, you are really stressed. 222 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 2: You're at a crossroads and you need to let go. 223 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: Like your body is ready to move on, your mind 224 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: is not. And I cried like during it, like it 225 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: was a very big release, but I left and I 226 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: kind of dismissed it because I wasn't ready to hear 227 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: it yet. 228 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: Oh wow, So how long after that did you actually 229 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: make the move? 230 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 2: Probably like three months. So I kept fighting and I 231 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: was cross training and I was holding on and I 232 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: was exhausted. And then I actually my uncle is a 233 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 2: doctor and I saw him at Christmas and I was like, hey, 234 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 2: you're a doctor, can you look at my ankle and 235 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: tell me? And we went outside the party. He kind 236 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: of looked at my ankle and he's like, you know, Kira, 237 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: like I think you're ready to move on and see 238 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: what else care it can be? 239 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: So you were getting me signed from multiple places. 240 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 2: Well, I was stressed. I felt pressure there was no 241 00:11:59,000 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: joy in it. 242 00:11:59,520 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: For me. 243 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 2: It was like it was all these negative emotions that 244 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: I attached to running, and I was exhausted from fighting 245 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 2: this battle that I wasn't making any progress on. And 246 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 2: I think that's what people were picking up on. And 247 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 2: then finally I like was like what would happen if 248 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: I quit and I stopped this? Like where would I go? 249 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 2: And so I decide in my head, like tonight, I'm 250 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: going to go to sleep thinking I'm no longer going 251 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: to be an elite runner, Like let's see how I 252 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 2: wake up tomorrow morning. And I woke up and there 253 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 2: was just a whole like I was just released of 254 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 2: all the pressure and like the goals and all like 255 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 2: the unfinished Like I just felt so much lighter releasing that. 256 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: And I think that's when I knew that was the 257 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: right decision for me at the time. 258 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: It's interesting that you had to phrase it in first 259 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: person and just kind of verbalize it or vocalize it. 260 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: You had to vocalize it to yourself in order for 261 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: it to really feel concrete. 262 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 2: Right right, And then it was interesting because like for me, 263 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: I felt like a failure, like I had I'd never 264 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: made TMOSA. I never won a national championship, I never 265 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 2: set any records, so there was a lot of like 266 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 2: unfinished business that then I felt like I failed, like 267 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 2: I fell short of all those goals, and I was okay, 268 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: And that was such a beautiful lesson to learn, like 269 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 2: I failed and I was okay. So on the other 270 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: side of failure, like you'll be okay, and I think 271 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,079 Speaker 2: that like has really helped me round two and then 272 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 2: give myself grace that that's okay that you didn't hit that, Like, 273 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: let's see what else you can be. So I set 274 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: out I call it my halftime show between round one 275 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 2: and round two. But during that halftime show, I discovered, 276 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: like who else Kire was. I wasn't just cure the runner. 277 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: I was now Cure the runner who didn't run but 278 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: did a lot of other really fun things. It was 279 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 2: a really beautiful time to learn how much more than 280 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: just a runner I was, which I think has really 281 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: helped round two as well. 282 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: More from Kira Dematto after this shortbreak, Well, everything we're 283 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: talking about right now reminds me of this quote of yours. 284 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: You said, everyone's says we should slow down in our thirties, 285 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: that our peak is over. I'm going to prove them wrong. 286 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: And you did prove people wrong because you were thirty 287 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: seven when you broke the American marathon record. So what 288 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: do you want to show other women about milestones in 289 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: age and the meaning and weight that we attached to them. 290 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: Well, I think as especially like in high school and college. 291 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: Actually this is a funny story. So in high school, 292 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: when I was a freshman, I was running really well, 293 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 2: and there was a senior girl or a junior girl 294 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: on the team that printed out this article that said, 295 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 2: like girls peak their freshman year in high school and 296 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 2: then it's all downhill once they start their cycle. And 297 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: she gave it to me. And I don't know if 298 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: that was a subtle like diss or whatever, but I 299 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: put it up in my locker and I was like, 300 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 2: I'm going to prove this wrong. This isn't true. Like 301 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 2: people crush it in they're like late teens and twenties. 302 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 2: So I feel like I've always had a little bit 303 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: of the mentality to stick it to the man. But 304 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: I think we're also as a society, especially in female sport. 305 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: You compete in college, you go pro, and then you 306 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 2: retire in your late twenties early thirties and then you 307 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 2: start a family and start a career. So for me, 308 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: I like flip that all upside down and backwards. And 309 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: I think it's taken people like me and other mothers 310 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: that are like pushing the limits to show us all 311 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: what we're capable of. And I think we're learning how 312 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 2: powerful mothers can be. And so I think that we 313 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: haven't supported mothers enough to really see what we can do. 314 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 2: So I think now we're seeing it normalized that mothers 315 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 2: are competing at a really high level. We're seeing the 316 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 2: support not only from like the community and like sponsors, 317 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 2: but we're seeing it in gear. So it's like we're 318 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 2: seeing the support catch up. So we're now seeing what 319 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 2: we all can do, which is just I'm so proud 320 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 2: to be part of this. And I think there's a 321 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: number of women that are all pushing it forward in 322 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: a number of different sports, and I'm really proud to 323 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: be one of them. 324 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: Well, you must interact with women like that, women you know, 325 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: like the ones that you're describing. How do people respond 326 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: to your story when you when you share it with them. 327 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 2: So in twenty twenty four, there was the Olympic Trials 328 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 2: to make the marathon team and I had a realistic 329 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: shot in making the team. During the race, I got 330 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: a heat stroke and I dropped out of the race. 331 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: So it did not go well. I did not have 332 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: my day. I did not make that Olympic team, and 333 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 2: I am down. I'm frustrated. I'm like questioning, like what happened? 334 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 2: Like how am I? How was I not prepared for 335 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 2: this day in these conditions, And I'm walking into like 336 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: the Elite athlete tent afterwards to grab my stuff. I'm 337 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 2: kind of my head's down, and usually I'm a really 338 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 2: perky person, high fiving everyone saying good job. But I 339 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 2: was just feeling a little down. And I think there 340 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: was five different women that came up to me at 341 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: different times and said, like Kira, thank you for giving 342 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 2: me permission to go for this goal. Like because of you, 343 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: I found like the courage to start. I have, you know, 344 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: two kids, I have three kids, I have one kid, 345 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: you know. Or I'm just in my thirties and I 346 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: thought sport was over for me at this fashion, And 347 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 2: I'm so appreciative that they told me in that because 348 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 2: I never like I was able to zoom out and 349 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: think like I'm winning. You know like, even though that 350 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: was one of my worst days ever, I'm so proud 351 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 2: of what I'm doing, like for the sport, and it's 352 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 2: really touching and really humbling to hear, like to hear 353 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 2: that to feel part of someone else's journey is just 354 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 2: really really special. 355 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: I keep coming back to this theme of failure because 356 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: it's something that you talk about quite a bit in 357 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: your book, and you write that failure is a superpower. 358 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,239 Speaker 1: And the way that you share your story and your 359 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: failures is with so much vulnerability and humor, which is 360 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 1: honestly so rare to hear people reflect on their failures 361 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: in this way. Can you share a time when a 362 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: failure taught you something that you just know you couldn't 363 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:46,640 Speaker 1: have learned any other way. 364 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, So for me in round two, I've rephrased like 365 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 2: the winner lose to win or learn, So either going 366 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 2: to hit my goal or I'm going to learn something 367 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 2: that's going to be another tool in my toolbox that's 368 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: like it's now full. It's not full, but there's a 369 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 2: lot of tools in the toolbox because by design, I've 370 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,120 Speaker 2: come up short more times than I've hit my goal. 371 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: So I think that's something too that we all need 372 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 2: except like, yeah, we're gonna have days that we crush it. 373 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 2: But most days, by design, when you're going for a 374 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 2: big goal, you're not crushing it. And that's okay. You're 375 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: learning how to crush it. And there was a race 376 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 2: that I did in Thanksgiving in twenty twenty one, and 377 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: it's called the Manchester Road Race. It's in Manchester, Connecticut, 378 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 2: and it's like a three point seven something, you know, 379 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 2: an off distance type of race, and it's super competitive. 380 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 2: Usually like draw some of the best runners like in 381 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 2: the world have race there, and so I was kind 382 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 2: of nervous about that, but I went in thinking, you know, 383 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: I think I'm in shape to really compete. And I 384 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 2: ended up that day breaking the course record. But the 385 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 2: only problem was that there was a woman who finished 386 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 2: ahead of me that broke it by She beat me 387 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 2: by like forty five or fifty some seconds, so she 388 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: just crushed me. And after that race, I was kind 389 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 2: of upset, you know, that I had this great day 390 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 2: and it didn't matter because ran faster than me. And 391 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: I lived in that like frustration for about twenty four hours, 392 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 2: and then finally I learned, like, why is someone else's 393 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: good day? Making mine not a good day, Like how 394 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 2: did her good day make mine a bad day? Like 395 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 2: if you had just told me, cure, you're going to 396 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 2: break the course record, I would have been thrilled with that, 397 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 2: But because someone did even better, it like put me 398 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 2: down and I hated feeling that way. I hated that 399 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 2: someone else's good day made like had effect on my 400 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: good day. And so it was through that that I learned, 401 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: like we can all have good days, and I'm never 402 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 2: going to let someone else's good day make have any 403 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 2: effect on mind being a good or bad day. So 404 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 2: that was like a really important lesson for me. And 405 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 2: just then being able to cheer for people and then 406 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: just I don't know, things are out of your control 407 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: and you got to kind of let it go. But 408 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 2: I think that was like a really important lesson on 409 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 2: my journey too. 410 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: Well, Kira, it seems like you have this healthy relationship 411 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: with failure now, but I know you're still competitive. I 412 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: know you have to be competitive because you are an 413 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: elite athlete. So where are you at with or competitiveness now? 414 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: With losing a race now? 415 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 2: Like I want to like acknowledge those feelings and it's 416 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 2: okay to feel let down, or to feel sad, or 417 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 2: feel disappointed, or to. 418 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: Feel like you failed. 419 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 2: Like those are all feelings that we all feel, and 420 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 2: you shouldn't just sweep them under the rug pretend like 421 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter they do. So give yourself time to 422 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 2: feel that and then learn from it. So when you're 423 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: in that point, it's like, Okay, so how can I 424 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 2: never be here again? Like what can I learn from 425 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 2: that day? To make sure that I've leveled up? 426 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: And humor is a great tool to help all of 427 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: us cope with the failures and setbacks of life. You 428 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: weave so much humor into your memoir. Is is that 429 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,479 Speaker 1: something that you've always had within you or was it 430 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: a coping mechanism that you developed along the way? 431 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I've always had it, Like I think 432 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 2: just my outlook on life is we can laugh our 433 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 2: way through it, or like what's the alternative? 434 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: Right? 435 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 2: I mean? And there's times that we can't laugh our 436 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: way through things, you know, but for the most part, 437 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 2: like the mundane can you can make it funny? And 438 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: it's more fun when the mundane is funny. But when 439 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 2: I was, like in my early twenties, like I'd show 440 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 2: up to practice and I'd be laughing and I'd be joking, 441 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 2: and I do little praying, so I you know, I 442 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 2: have little jokes. And one teammate in particular was really 443 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 2: serious and he was setting all the records, he was winning, 444 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: He made the Olympics with just like the fastest runner 445 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: in the nation, and he was serious and he was 446 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 2: driven and he was focused. And at the time, I 447 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 2: thought that's what I needed to be if I wanted 448 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 2: to find his level of success. So I thought that 449 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 2: because I was goofy and funny, I thought that maybe 450 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 2: I couldn't be successful. But and now in my round two, 451 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 2: like when I got to that turning point, like do 452 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 2: I go for it? Like I decided then that I'm 453 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:43,959 Speaker 2: gonna go for it, but I'm gonna do it in 454 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: my way and it's gonna be funny, and it's gonna 455 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 2: be goofy, and it's gonna be weird and backwards, but 456 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 2: it's gonna be totally Kira. And it's been so cool 457 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 2: to do it and totally my way and find success. 458 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 2: So that's when I learned that, like when you're going 459 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 2: for something, like you need to find your path in 460 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 2: your way that you feel comfortable in we've got to take. 461 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: A short break, but we'll be right back with Kiara Demato. 462 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: And we're back with Kiara Dematto. What are you thinking 463 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: about when you're running? Is there a script that's playing 464 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: over and over in your head, a mantra or is 465 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: it just what is it? What's going on up there? 466 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 2: I think there's some runs that you're just in this 467 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 2: flow state and it's like everything and nothing in your mind, 468 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,719 Speaker 2: and you feel like you blink and you've run two 469 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 2: or three miles and you're like, WHOA, how did I 470 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 2: get here? And then there's sometimes like in workouts where 471 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 2: you're trying to be real intentional and you're trying to 472 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: focus on the pace and make sure you're hitting what 473 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 2: you need to, you're trying to relax, you're dropping your shoulders. 474 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: And I have a lot of mantras during the hard 475 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: parts that helped me get through it. And when I started, 476 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 2: it was like a motivational quote, so it was pain 477 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: is temporary, PRIDEE Forever. And then it kind of changed 478 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 2: when I was in college to like just being my 479 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: own cheerleader. So you got this, like I'm strong, I 480 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 2: got this, I can do hard things. And then lately 481 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 2: It's been more of when it gets to like the 482 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 2: hard part and a workout or a race or run 483 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: where your legs are heavy, you want to stop, you 484 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 2: want to quit, You question all of your life decisions 485 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 2: on how you got to this point that you're running 486 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: so long. But I've decided instead of like fearing that 487 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 2: and like pumping myself up almost like welcoming it in 488 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 2: as like an invitation and saying, this is where the 489 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 2: magic happens. So how I work through this hard stuff, 490 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 2: which actually really is applicable to life too, Like how 491 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 2: I work through hard stuff is going to turn this 492 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 2: into a like a bad day into a good day, 493 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: or a good day into a great day, or a 494 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 2: great day into my best day. Ever, So when I 495 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 2: kind of welcome it in, I'm like, I'm going to 496 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 2: work through this because this is the chance that I 497 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 2: have to prove like what kind of person or what 498 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 2: kind of runner I am? 499 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: This is where the magic happens. I'm stealing that. You 500 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 1: think of goals in three ways, daily wins, a reach goal, 501 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: and a big dream. I often get asked, what's your 502 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: what's your big dream or what's your your big long 503 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: term goal? How do you answer that question. Now. 504 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, for a while, it was to become an Olympian. 505 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 2: That was like my big long term goal. And for me, 506 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 2: like the long term goals are kind of your north star, 507 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 2: like where all of your other like your small your 508 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 2: daily wins, and your like medium goals where they're all 509 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 2: pointing to and those are steps to get there. And 510 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: I think right now, like, you know, my American record 511 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 2: in the marathon's been broken, so I want to get 512 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 2: that back. So that's like a big, big dream for me. 513 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 2: And that's what I'm like aiming towards now. That's my 514 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 2: north star to try to get that back. I mean, 515 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 2: it was really fun being the American record holder. It's 516 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 2: like still fun being the former American record. 517 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,120 Speaker 1: Holder, but not as fun, not as fun. 518 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 2: I'd like to drop the former and just get back 519 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 2: to being the you know, bee holder. 520 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 1: I love seeing your competitive side him out. It's so good. 521 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 2: I can get really competitive. But yeah, so but for me, 522 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 2: it's like those dreams, you know, it's something that can happen. 523 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: There is another Olympic year coming up in twenty twenty eight, 524 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 2: so that's still like on my horizon, like can I 525 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 2: make it another build and have an opportunity to attempt 526 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,239 Speaker 2: to make that team too. Yeah, I have a lot 527 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 2: of big goals still. 528 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about the ending of your book, 529 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: because you end it with this sense of optimism and 530 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: this idea that the best is yet to come. So 531 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 1: as we near the end of our conversation, what are 532 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: you chasing now, not as a runner but as cure? 533 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, like, I'm still chasing happiness. I think in life, 534 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 2: when you're authentically going after goals that make you happy 535 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: and excite you. And that could be personal, it can 536 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,479 Speaker 2: be business, it could be family oriented. But I think 537 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 2: when you're going after things that really make you happy, 538 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 2: I think like I've found more success. Like I don't 539 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 2: know at the beginning of this journey if you would 540 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 2: asked me to write your biggest goals you ever can 541 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 2: think of, and running like I wouldn't have. I've surpassed 542 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 2: everything I could have ever dreamed of. But I think 543 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 2: that was because I was chasing happiness the whole time, 544 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 2: and I was doing things that authentically made me happy, 545 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 2: and that got me excited to get up in the 546 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 2: morning and work hard for you know, that made me 547 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:58,880 Speaker 2: want to go to bed early so I could get 548 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,239 Speaker 2: up earlier, you know. So it's like things that like 549 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,719 Speaker 2: really like seeped into the rest of your life. Like 550 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 2: that makes me so happy chasing things like that and 551 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 2: just finding out that what if. 552 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: Well, you dedicate this chapter in your books to celebrating 553 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: wins and acknowledging the little bits of progress that we 554 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: see every day, which is a perfect way to end 555 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: this conversation because we have a signature segment that we 556 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: like to call moment to Shine. So I want to 557 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: ask you what are you celebrating right now? 558 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 2: Oh? Man, So I've had a rough year. I've had 559 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 2: a really rough year, and. 560 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: Girl me too. I feel so good to hear somebody 561 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: else say that, like nothing turned out how I thought 562 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: it was going to. But please go on, dido diddo. 563 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 2: But like kind of like we were talking, like this 564 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 2: is where the magic happens. Like I work through it 565 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 2: and I'm now starting to see the other side of that, 566 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: And I'm so proud of myself for just being patient 567 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 2: with myself, showing myself grace, continuing to work through these things. 568 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 2: I'm still like having the best is yet to come 569 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 2: through that, but I'm now seeing like the patience and 570 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 2: the grace and the hard work and just the grind 571 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 2: like payoff through running and in life. And so I'm 572 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:14,920 Speaker 2: in like a really good spot right now. But I'm 573 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 2: just so I'm proud that, yeah, I've worked through it 574 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 2: in a way that I'm proud of myself. 575 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: It's just as simple as that, as just maintaining that 576 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: belief that the best is yet to come. Kia, Thank 577 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 1: you so much. 578 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. This is so fun, 579 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 2: and I just so appreciate your vibes and your energy 580 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 2: and what you put onto the world is just so incredible, 581 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: and I'm so appreciative for you and what you do 582 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 2: and how you inspire others to look on the bright side. 583 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Kiro. Kira's motto is a record 584 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: breaking All American runner. Her debut book, Don't Call It 585 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: a Comeback. What Happened When I Stopped Chasing Prs and 586 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: started Chasing Happiness goes on sale September ninth. The bright 587 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: Side is a production of Hello, Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts 588 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: and is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me Simone Boyce. 589 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: Production is by a Cast Creative Studios. Our producers are 590 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, Abby Delk, and Darby Masters. Our 591 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: production assistant is Joya putnoy Acasts. Executive producers are Jenny 592 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 1: Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are 593 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: the executive producers for Hello Sunshine. Ali Perry and Lauren 594 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: Hansen are the executive producers for iHeart Podcasts. Tim Palazola 595 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: is our showrunner. Our theme song is by Anna Stump 596 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: and Hamilton Lighthouser